Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Feels big.... Is big... Not really Fun - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By brownie2k - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Roomy, powerful and a great value. However... Backing up is a complete mystery, amatuers need not apply! Once moving forward, drive is quite smooth and full of power - for a V6. Owned over 1 1/2 years and virtually no problems other than the dealership hosing me at time of purchase...but whats new!

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  Nice Ride but Look Out! - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Central PA - April 1 - 11:00 pm

  Bought the car with 51,000 miles on it. It is an inexpensive mid-size car great for trips however, I am leary on taking it anywhere too far! Had it for 3 months and replaced oil crancase sensor (didnt even drive it for 1500 miles). At 62,000 miles, the transmission went out without warning costing me $2800. Engine very noisy: a lot of lifter tap. Would hesitate on purchasing again!

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  I will miss it! - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sonia Q - April 1 - 1:08 am

  My very first car. The re-introduction of the classic Malibu, great looking body style, and good price got my attention. Since purchasing in 97, I put on 78,000 miles on it. Although it was 4 cyl. and no frills, it fulfilled its purpose to get me around but it also looked stylish (I have gold color). The car never left me stranded BUT, for the last 7K miles, Ive had a water pump leak problem.

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  1997 Malibu NY - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CM - March 31 - 10:59 pm

  MY 97 Malibu - Great Car for the price I paid. Large enough to be comfortable and small enough for easy driving in the city. Mechanicals OK - a bit sluggish and mpg seems to be poor. Styling is adequate, not flashy. Repairs are few. Water pump most expensive repair yet. Hope to keep this for a few more years. My son could use it for college.

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  This is a righteous car - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Austin - March 31 - 8:53 pm

  This has been so far the best car for the dollar that I have bought. The only complaints is the build quality is a little off. Lots of things on the inside rattle. The car almost killed me when something called a balancer came off of the engine. I lost power steering and my brakes. When into a ditch. That wasnt fun. But hey the airbag worked great. The engine thing was probably my fault because the weekend before I preaty much threw it off a cliff. Oh yeah did I mention it is an off roading beast? A bigger engine would be nice. But it has a great power to weight ratio

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  So far so good - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By kolocar - March 31 - 5:40 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for about 6 months, and have had no mechanical issues at all. No LTZ (F41) suspension means it handles with typical Chevy mediocrity fair amount of body roll & it plows readily around tight corners. Smooth and quiet on the highway though. Amazing MPG for its size - averaging mid-20s, never less than 22MPG. I estimate pure highway mileage at 70- 85MPH at around 32 MPG. 3.1V6 175hp plenty peppy, but not lightning quick. Drives like it has a 4bbl carb - huge, noticable surge in acceleration with pedal pushed past 1/2 way or more to floor - but its fuel injected. Gives it a nice nostalgic driving feel. Reasonably comfortable long distance driver.

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  1997 LT Owner - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Mark - March 31 - 1:55 pm

  Ive owned this Blazer since it waS new. About to turn over 100k miles. Just put on the 3rd set of tires. Not a lot of problems for a vehicle that old, but here is a list of problems Ive had: Excessive paint chips since it was new, entire car repainted by dealer. 4WD is currently intermittent due to a vacuum problem. Leaking coolant. Replaced fuel sender. Hazard/brakelight/turn signal switch bad, intermittent brake lights. Replaced 3 speakers. Body molding coming off. Hoses to oil filter leaking. Climate control diverter is messed up, delayed in switching from floor to defrost, etc. probably due to vacuum leak. Never a MAJOR problem though.....

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  My Lumina - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By MotorHead - March 31 - 12:19 pm

  Since purchasing my Lumina I have had many mixed experiences. First of all, its a blast to drive and is put together quite well. But its like Murphys Law, "if it can go wrong, it will"...I bought the car for $2000 cash and have put in almost $3000 in parts, and 99% of that is done by myself. If youre not mechanically inclined, it may not be a wise choice. I hope this could help, and happy motoring.

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  Love this truck! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By tomk - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Very fun truck. VERY practical truck. My wife drives it all over town haulling kids during the week. And on the weekend I drive it hauling concrete block and wallboard!!!

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  Love this truck! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By TomK - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Very fun truck. VERY practical truck. My wife drives it all over town haulling kids during the week. And on the weekend I drive it hauling concrete block and wallboard!!!